Birmingham Muslim Cleric Hate

Radical Islamist preacher who has said he 'does not believe in democracy' and is 'not obedient' to secular law is working as an expert witness to British courts

•    Dr Imran Waheed is an NHS psychiatrist and expert witness
•    He is also a radical Islamist preacher who was a spokesman for Hizb ut-Tahrir
•    He says he has left the extremist group and has changed his views
•    But he preached at one of the organisation's conferences in November

By JAKE WALLIS SIMONS ASSOCIATE GLOBAL EDITOR
Daily Mail
7 July 2018

A radical Islamist preacher who has said he 'does not believe in democracy' and is 'not obedient' to secular law is working as an expert witness to British courts, MailOnline can reveal.

Dr Imran Waheed, 41, a psychiatrist working for the NHS and Bupa in Birmingham, offers his services as an expert witness in a range of civil and criminal cases assessing defendants' psychological reliability.

For many years he was a key figure in the UK branch of Hizb ut-Tahrir, which campaigns for an Islamic state run by Sharia law. In an interview he said: 'I've got no respect for any law other than Allah's... I don't care for the law of any man.'

The disclosure has sparked fears that the justice system is vulnerable to Islamist entryists who wish to 'take control from within'.

Dr Waheed told MailOnline that he had since left the group and changed his views.

But in November he appeared in the organisation's official internet broadcast extolling the virtues of a caliphate.

According to his website, Dr Waheed gives British courts psychiatric assessments of a defendant's 'dangerousness', fitness to hold a firearm licence and fitness to stand trial.

He also treats mentally ill patients and lectures university medical students on subjects including 'cultural and ethnic aspects of mood disorders'.

In a BBC interview he said: 'I've got no respect for any law other than Allah's, so I don't care about the law to be honest… I care for the law of Islam. I don't care for the law of any man.'

When questioned by MailOnline he said that these statements were 'not reflective of his current views'.

The revelations raise concerns about Dr Waheed's involvement in cases relating to Islamic law or extremism. He said he has not done such work and 'does not provide expert evidence where any conflict of interest may arise'.

Despite claiming to be no longer 'affiliated' with Hizb ut-Tahrir, Dr Waheed preached on the organisation's official broadcast in November alongside three of its most senior British leaders.

In the sermon he reiterated his longtime demands for a caliphate and said he aimed to 'liberate man from enslavement to man and the systems of man', calling into question his role in the British justice system.

When questioned about this by MailOnline he claimed he was speaking 'in the context of the occupation of Palestine'.

Fiyaz Mughal OBE, founder of Faith Matters and anti-extremism expert, said: 'It is sinister because this is exactly how Hizb ut-Tahrir operatives work.

'They deny legitimacy of secular man-made laws. Yet they try to get into those systems and structures to effectively damage them from within, or take them over from within.'

There is no suggestion that Dr Waheed is engaged in entryism, a charge that he denies.

In the BBC Hard Talk appearance in 2007 – his most extensive interview to date – he said: 'My obedience is not to any law. My obedience is to the law of my creator.

'I don't care about the laws of Pakistan where my parents were born or the laws of Britain. I care for the laws of my creator.'

He added: 'We don't believe in democracy. Democracy means you can change the laws from one time to another. Our laws are constant and unchanging.'

Dr Waheed told MailOnline that these statements are 'not reflective of his current views'.

While working for the NHS Dr Waheed compiled a list of military attachés working in the embassies of Arab countries in London and distributed it to fellow extremists.

At the time he was accused of trying to 'target and recruit' military support for establishing Islamic rule, though he denied this.

In the past he organised a rally at the London Arena calling on Muslims to abandon the Western way of life.
He was deported from Indonesia where he was due to speak at an extremist rally in 2007. Hizb ut-Tahrir was subsequently outlawed in the country.

The group has also been banned in a number of other countries including Germany, Russia, China, Turkey and most of the Arab world. It is also barred from Birmingham Central mosque.

Dr Waheed told the BBC: 'In democracy and in Western capitalism, man in the one who decides what is right and wrong. In Islam, we believe our creator Allah has decided what is right and wrong.'

He added: 'We feel we're on the brink of establishing this [Islamic] state.'

Mosque charity investigated for encouraging children into terrorism

29 Jun 2018
civilsociety.co.uk

The Charity Commission has frozen bank accounts at a mosque after an imam was convicted of six counts of encouraging terrorism in sermons and classes to children.

Trustees of the Fazal Ellahi Charitable Trust were also told that their charity must stop working with children.

The charity, which exists to advance Islam and teach Urdu, was removed from the Commission register in 2009 after it failed to engage with the regulator or submit accounts, but it continued to run a mosque in Birmingham.

The Commission stepped in last year after being made aware of offences committed by the Imam at the mosque operated by the charity. The offences resulted in a conviction of six counts of encouragement of terrorism and two counts of encouraging support for a proscribed organisation in relation to a series of sermons and classes for children he gave at the mosque.

“The Commission engaged with the charity in 2017 after being made aware of offences committed by the imam at the mosque operated by the charity,” the regulator said in a statement.

“The offences resulted in a conviction of six counts of encouragement of terrorism and two counts of encouraging support for a proscribed organisation in relation to a series of sermons and classes for children he gave at the mosque.”

The Commission said the inquiry will examine the following regulatory concerns:

•    The management and oversight of staff, use of the charity’s premises and safeguarding procedures by the trustees
•    Whether the trustees have properly exercised their legal duties and responsibilities under charity law in the administration of the charity
•    The financial management of the charity, particularly in regards to maintaining and preserving accounting records
•    Whether there has been misconduct and/or mismanagement by the trustees, including failure to comply with the charity’s own governing document

Terror suspect arrested in Birmingham and facing extradition to Spain is imam father-of-eight who preached to Bataclan bomber before Paris attacks

•    The imam accused of helping to recruit ISIS fighters is named as Tarik Chadlioui
•    Muslim preacher was arrested at his house in the Sparkhill area of Birmingham
•    Father-of-eight accused of producing propaganda material on behalf of of ISIS
•    Four people in Majorca, Spain and one in Germany also arrested in terror raids

By Alexander Robertson For Mailonline
28 June 2017

A British-based imam accused of recruiting Jihadists to fight for ISIS should be extradited to Spain to face terror charges, a court has heard.

Tarik Chadlioui, 43, allegedly tried to recruit and radicalise fighters for ISIS as part of a terror cell from his home in the Sparkhill area of Birmingham.

The Moroccan-born cleric has been living in Britain with his wife and eight children since 2015, after moving to the UK from Belgium.

He is accused of posting video propaganda in support of Islamic State on his Youtube channel and other social media.

The 43-year-old, also known as Tarik Ibn Ali, is understood to have preached hate-filled sermons at a Paris mosque attended by Bataclan bomber Omar Mostefai.

Mostefai was one of three ISIS gunmen who entered a theatre during a co-ordinated terror attack on Paris in 2015 which killed 130 people.

Chadlioui appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court this afternoon after he was arrested in an early morning raid in the West Midlands City.

Spanish authorities say Chadlioui is an imam subscribing to Salafism, an ultra-conservative form of Islam.

The father-of-eight is said to have been wanted by several countries and is believed to be the 'spiritual leader' of a ISIS-supporting group in Spain.

Dressed in a traditional Arab robe and speaking through an Arabic interpreter, Chadlioui appeared fed up and tired and only spoke to confirm his name and address.

Benjamin Joyes, representing the Spanish authorities, said: 'We are opposing bail in the most strenuous of terms.

'This is an arrest warrant for Spain described as being a member of a terrorist organisation.

'In short these offences relate to what in this country fall under dissemination of terror material and encourage others to commit terror.

'It is alleged that the requested person with several others as a member of an organisation gave support to the terrorist organisation Islamic State by means of propaganda and incitement of new members to join the organisation.

'He produced audio visual material for the recruitment of jihadis on his YouTube channel for indoctrination and posted symbols and banners for Islamic State on social media.

Mr Benjamin added: 'The requested person stated that he is a frequent traveller and goes to Belgium regularly.'

According to Dutch media, Chadlioui visited several mosques in Antwerp, Belgium earlier this month before returning to the UK.

Anti-terror police used a European arrest warrant to detain Chadlioui in the early hours of Wednesday morning in the Sparkhill area of Birmingham as part of a wider investigation into support for ISIS.

He was one of six arrested across Europe, four in Majorca and another in Dortmund, Germany since the investigation, which focuses on terrorist material shared online, began in 2015.

Chadlioui, known as Tarik Ibn Ali, was born in Morocco but later moved to Europe where he is said to have formed links with groups including Sharia4Belgium, who aim to impose Sharia law across the country and Europe.

It took inspiration from Islam4UK - a group once led by convicted hate preacher Anjem Choudary.

It has been reported that Chadlioui radicalised Bataclan attacker Omar Mostefai in his preached hate filled sermons at the Luce mosque in a Paris suburb.

Mostefai was identified by a severed finger on the Bataclan floor after he and seven others killed 132 and left 352 injured in the Paris attack in November 2015.

Saba Ashraf, defending, opposed the extradition citing his private life under article 8 of the Human Rights Act.

She urged district judge Baynes to give Chadlioui bail, but was refused.

Ms Ashraf said: 'I have been given a copy of the European Arrest Warrant and on the face of the warrant the particulars are very vague.

'There is no time, place or sate there is no connection to Spain and there is no role for the requested person.

'It simply says that he is part of a terror organisation that provide propaganda material to others to join the organisation.

'Other than that there is no suggestion to what his particular involvement is.'

She added: 'Mr Chadlioui is a 43-year-old man who has eight children all below the age of 18 bar one, the youngest being a three month old baby.

'They are at his home address in Birmingham. He has been here for two years since 2015 he was living in Belgium.

'He has a business selling perfumes at stalls and at mosques, that is how he supports his family, his wife is a house wife and does not work.

'There is no date given or time or place with any connection with Spain at all.

'To remand someone of good character who is the sole financial carer for eight children on the basis that he might be a member of an Islamic group seems to be onerous.'

Chadlioui was remanded in custody until another extradition hearing next week.

District Judge Shenagh Bayne said: 'The allegations in the European Arrest Warrant could scarcely be more serious.

'The warrant relates to terrorism offences, the framework list is ticked at participation in a criminal organisation and terrorism.

'It is alleged that you are a member of a terror organisation and that you have actively engaged in terrorist activities.

'If you are convicted of this offence you face a possible sentence of 20 years imprisonment.'

Chadlioui will appear back before Westminster Magistrates at a further hearing on July 5.

The British-based preacher's Facebook page has more than 20,000 'likes' and he has more than 10,000 YouTube subscribers.

It is understood that the investigation into Chadlioui and others arrested today began in 2015 after recruitment videos were found online.

Referring to ISIS by its Arabic acronym Daesh, Spanish Police said in a statement: 'The investigation began in 2015 when a series of videos were discovered on a website which showed the process of indoctrination, recruitment and subsequent journey to Syria of a young Muslim living in Spain. The film promoter was identified as a Salafist imam.'

It added that the man was suspected of 'exercising functions ranging from recruiting, indoctrination and radicalisation in favour of Daesh and becoming from that point on their spiritual leader.'

A CONTROVERSIAL city Muslim cleric was today facing fresh calls for his resignation after he accused Tony Blair of acting like Hitler.

Dr Mohammed Naseem, chairman of the Birmingham Central Mosque in Highgate, said the Prime Minister's plans to deport 500 extremists were on a par with the former German dictator's persecution of the Jews prior to the Second World War.

Talking on a BBC Radio Four programme, he said: "Hitler started a process of the elimination of the Jewish people. I see the similarities.

"I think Blair is not very wise in the way he is doing this. I am saying he is not handling it wisely."

The comments come after the Prime Minister announced an immigration crackdown with officials being given a list, drafted by M15, of those Muslim fanatics who were deemed a risk to British security.

It is claimed anyone singled out will be forced to leave Britain and have their asylum claims revoked.

Birmingham's Labour MP for Perry Barr, Khalid Mahmood said: "His comments are an absolute disgrace.

"All he succeeds in doing by making these kind of accusations is to fan the flames and whip up further ill-feeling against the Muslim community."

A spokesman for the British Council of Muslims added: "Dr Naseem's opinions are his opinions, and while we have some criticism of Mr Blair's new measures, we would choose to use our language differently." Dr Naseem first sparked calls for his resignation last week after he questioned whether the London bomb attacks were carried out by Muslims.

* THE alleged would-be suicide bomber arrested in Birmingham and two other men were appearing in court today.

Yassin Omar, 24, who was arrested by police during a raid on a house in Hay Mills, was set to appear before Bow Street Magistrates' Court, sitting at Belmarsh prison, London.

Omar, of New Southgate, London, Ibrahim Muktar Said, 27, of Stoke Newington, London and Ramzi Mohamed, 23, of North Kensington, London, are charged with plotting to murder passengers on the London transport system.

POLICE holding the Birmingham terror suspects have seized secret TV footage of an Islamic preacher praising the death of a British Muslim soldier in Afghanistan.

The mystery cleric - now being urgently hunted by detectives - ranted about the dead serviceman at a meeting in a Birmingham mosque. He said: "There was an individual killed in Afghanistan recently. Do you know what was written in a newspaper? Hero of Islam! The hero of Islam is the one who separated his head from his shoulders!"

The hate-filled speech at the meeting in Jamia Mosque in the mainly Asian neighbourhood of Sparkbrook was secretly filmed by an undercover reporter for an edition of the Channel 4 series Dispatches screened last month.

During the session the preacher hailed the death of Jabron Hashmi, 24, a British Muslim Lance Corporal killed by the Taliban in Helmand Province in July last year.

Tapes of the programme were seized on Thursday in the week nine men were arrested over a plot to kidnap and behead a British Muslim soldier. A West Midlands Police source said: "These tapes could be crucial to the investigation.

"Not only is the death of a British Muslim soldier applauded, but there is talk of beheading.

"Considering the mosque is only a stone's throw from where some of the arrested men lived, it is important we analyse the footage."

A Channel Four insider said: "All tapes, including filming that was not transmitted in the broadcast, were called in by police and can no longer be released to the public.

"Police are investigating allegations of incitement of racial hatred and a claim made on the programme about killing a British soldier."

There is no suggestion any of the arrested suspects attended radical meetings at the mosque.

But relatives of one, Azzar Iqbal, have confirmed that he did worship there. A cousin, Abdul Khan, 38, said: "Azzar did worship regularly at this mosque.

But he gave no sign of having any belief in terrorism. He couldn't possibly behead anyone."

The Dispatches documentary Undercover Mosques also showed preacher Dr Ijaz Mian spouting anti-Western hatred.

Saudi-educated Dr Mian, 65, has for years toured British mosques giving controversial lectures championing extreme Islam.

In one talk - also shown by Dispatches - he raved: "King, Queen, House of Commons. If you accept it, you are a part of it.

"You don't accept it, you have to dismantle it. There will be no House of Commons. Muslims must grow in strength then take over."

Last night the Sunday Mirror tracked Dr Mian down to a £200,000 detached home he shares with his wife two miles from six of the 11 Birmingham addresses raided by anti-terror police last week.

When asked what he thought of Muslims joining the British army, he said young men should "choose a more useful career, such as a mechanic".

Police are also investigating claims that one of the nine suspects had been involved in a fight with a Muslim British soldier.

The suspect is alleged to have added that "he should have his head chopped off".

THE hardline preacher at the centre of an explosive TV documentary into extremist lectures delivered at a Birmingham Mosque today insisted: "I have nothing to hide."

Abu Usamah At-Thahabi was secretly taped for months by undercover reporters, appearing to deliver hate-filled lectures at Green Lane Mosque in Small Heath.

But today he described the Channel 4 Dispatches programme as "a poor attempt at fair journalism because every one of my statements were taken out of context - without any explanation."

The cleric said he welcomed the police investigation and would provide them with all the DVDs of his lectures.

"I totally embrace and encourage a police investigation because I do not believe that the security forces will have any hidden agenda in which they will allow themselves to be swayed by Channel Four's sensationalist journalism."

The cleric, an Afro-American convert to Islam who lives in Birmingham, then went onto explain some of his comments which have generated nationwide outrage since they were broadcast on Monday.

He was filmed saying: "If I were to call homosexuals perverted, dirty, filthy dogs who should be murdered, that's my freedom of speech, isn't it?"

However Abu Usamah AtThahabi claimed the programme makers had cut the sentences he said before and after this comment in which he said it was not correct.

He said: "Prior to that statement I was talking about freedom of speech and how I enjoy it here in this country but freedom of speech has its boundaries - that's what we should work by."

In the documentary, which also featured preachers delivering extremist views at the Jamia Mosque in Sparkbrook, the cleric says that Jews and Christians were "enemies" to Muslims and went on to condemn the kuffaar or nonbelievers.

Abu Usamah At-Thahabi said: "Kuffaar is a generic term, it is not a derogatory term and my comments were taken out of context.

"I was talking about the kuffaars who spill the blood of innocent women and children and steal the wealth and property of Muslims.

"The vast majority of my relatives are kuffaars, my mother and father are kuffaars. In all of the talks that I gave it was a consistent message, who are the kuffaars who we hate and the ones who kill the innocent."

The cleric was also filmed saying that although he did not agree with Osama Bin Laden's murderous actions, the al-Qaeda leader was better "than a million George Bushes, better than a thousand Tony Blairs" because he was a Muslim.

Abu Usamah At-Thahabi explained: "I condemn Osama Bin Laden's application of jihad but at the same time just as I condemn the Muslim who sells narcotics. "But because they are Muslims, they are going to be closer to me than non-Muslims."

The cleric then went on to say that his comments that Muslims shouldn't be happy living in anything other than an Islamic state, were again taken out of context.

He had preached that Muslims should work hard to be good citizens wherever they are living and that he did not want to destroy democracy.

"It conjures images in the mind of non-Muslims that we want to destroy the land, but as Muslims we should be model citizens," he said.

Abu Usamah At-Thahabi said he would provide the police with DVDs of his lectures.

"Let the authorities get involved in the investigation and get to the bottom of this matter in which I was quoted out of context," he said.

Muslim clerics accused of hate speech

February 13, 2007

New Zealand Herald

Two Muslim clerics invited to give speeches in New Zealand have been accused of promoting hate speech in Britain against gays, women and other religions.

Sheikh Khalid Yasin and Islamic scholar Bilal Phillips were last month shown in a documentary on Britain's Channel 4 allegedly inciting hatred at a British mosque.

The Press reported today that Yasin was invited to speak in Christchurch in May 2005 as a guest of the Muslim Association of Canterbury.

Phillips toured the country last year giving lectures as a guest of the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (Fianz).

Fianz said yesterday it would not invite such clerics in future, while the Canterbury association said Yasin was a kind, tolerant person and would have him back.

In the British documentary, Yasin predicted that Jews would be exterminated on the Day of Judgment.

He advocated a subordinate role for women and said Christian missionaries spread Aids by putting the virus in vaccines for tropical diseases such as malaria and yellow fever.

DVDs of American-born Yasin's speeches sold in a Birmingham mosque included the cleric urging his followers to stop mixing with Christians and Jews because they were being defiled and polluted by Western culture.

Phillips, who also preaches at the Birmingham mosque, was shown arguing it was permissible to marry off a nine-year-old girl because the Prophet Muhammad had done so.

Fianz president Javed Khan told the Press it would not be inviting Phillips again.

Mr Khan said Fianz was not aware of the background of the two scholars when they were invited to New Zealand.

Muslim Association of Canterbury president Khalifa Alhasi said yesterday it would have Yasin back because he was "a very kind, tolerant person".